The Smiths: Complete

The Smiths is one of those bands that I've always been meaning to catch up on, but I somehow made it through college without bothering to buy any of their albums. When I recently started looking around for used LPs, I was surprised by the prices they were going for. After mulling things over a bit, I finally decided to just take the plunge and get this set. Considering the prices of the current reissues, this box is actually a decent deal. Plus, Amazon has this as an AutoRip title, so you get a digital copy of the whole thing if you buy it directly from them and not a third-party seller (the box itself DOES NOT included a download code). Rhino did a great job with this set. The box, jackets, and LPs are very high quality, and each LP has a custom inner sleeve. The three gatefolds are particularly nice, and they threw in a couple of posters. While I'm not overly familiar with all the various CD and vinyl issues of these albums, these records sound great to me. If there's any complaint, it's that because of the inclusion of the three compilations, several songs appear twice. As one reviewer mentioned, a more practical move might have been to assemble a new compilation to catch all the non-album tracks. Then again, I'm sure there are fans with sentimental attachments to those original comps, so maybe it's best they left them that way.

If you are looking at this collection, then I'll assume you already know the music. The Smiths were one of the most important and original bands of the 80s, and it's about time all this great music was re-released. They were immensely popular in England, and while they are known in the US, they never reached the level of success here that they deserved. I guess that's hardly surprising. This is a really nice collection that will replace my original CDs. Does it have everything? Probably not, they released a lot of stuff. However, it's got most of what you need. So, I'll limit this review to the remasters themselves. I haven't gotten through all the CDs in this box yet, but those that I have listened to sound excellent. Johnny Marr supervised the remastering, and did a great job. These CDs are not overly loud or brick-walled like some newer discs. The levels are a bit higher than the originals, but in a good way. If there is any difference in the applied compression then it was done correctly and musically. I had the original vinyl and the original CD versions of most of these albums, and IMO the remasters here offer a significant improvement in sound quality across the board, especially on a good system. I also think the packaging is clever and effective. Each CD is contained in a miniature version of the original cardboard outer album sleeve, accurate right down to the stickers on the front and free poster included with "Rank". The cool thing is that the inside album sleeves are also included. So, the CD is inside a more slippery inner paper sleeve printed like the original, and then that fits in the outer cardboard sleeve, just like a vinyl album. I hate CDs that come in just a cardboard sleeve because they are difficult to get in and out without getting fingerprints all over them, and I generally have to put them in a separate jewel case. However, the inner paper album sleeves that come with these are very easy to get the CD in and out of, and then these slide right into the cardboard outer sleeve. So, the packaging is fun, compact, and easy to use, without the constant fuss to avoid smudges like normal cardboard sleeves. So, overall this is a must-have for the Smith's fan, even if you have the original CDs. The price is pretty low for all that you get, and the remastered versions sound great. Don't wait too long - good stuff like this seems to disappear way too quickly these days to make room for more awful, syntho-dance crap.

The quality of this box set, from its cover art to the remastering at the hands of Johnny Marr, is superb. This is a big beautiful set, with so much high quality material. All The Smiths vinyl singles and B-sides are such a treat! The remastering is perfect and is tastefully done. The drums, bass, guitars, and Morrissey's voice are perfectly mixed. The value of this set is sure to skyrocket over the next few years, so consider it as an investment if the price tag scares you now. So what could have made the set better? Well for the greedy (like me), I wish it had a complete live concert video to accompany "Rank." There is so much unreleased material that's surfaced on YouTube that I wish made it the set. But this shouldn't stop you from treating yourself to this comprehensive, perfectly crafted box set.

Great product, arrived well packaged, impeccably! Highly recommend to all lovers of good music! I am very happy with this purchase.

This is a very welcome release by Rhino that collects together all of the albums released by The Smiths during or just after their relatively short life span. Containing the four studio albums, three compilations and a live album, the music, for most people, needs little or no introduction. This box set really does remind the listener how timeless their music was and how totally unique and original the Morrissey & Marr song writing partnership was. Also, they were that rarest of bands that released stunning albums and equally stunning singles. And their fanbase never had to wait too long for new music - they were forever releasing non-album singles between albums and this is partly why the 'Hatful of Hollow' and 'The World Won't Listen' compilations were released while the band were still active. If the truth be told, there isn't too much discernible difference between these remasters and the CD re-issues of the 1990s. It is an improvement, particularly on their eponymous debut, and there is generally (but not always) more space and definition between the instruments. Overall the frequency range is higher but sound quality is in no way compromised to favour a loud mix as can sometimes be the case with remasters. But, I wouldn't get too excited about the remastering - the songs, essentially, sound exactly as they always did. All eight CD covers are exact mini replicas of the original vinyl releases, right down to the stickers and the inlay sleeves. Four of them have gatefold sleeves just like the originals and even the artwork on the CDs themselves is identical to that found on the original vinyl LPs. Housed in a sturdy cardboard case and accompanied by a booklet (albeit very brief for a career encompassing collection), the attention to detail is exceptional. In total there are 111 tracks with a playing time of 6 hours & 35 minutes, although there is some repetition given the inclusion of the three compilation albums. It's not quite the complete Smiths - there are a couple of single only tracks missing. In summary, this is a worthwhile purchase for fans and newcomers alike and reconfirms that The Smiths were indeed the best, most consistent and prolific band of their generation. It also represents excellent value too.

I would have to consider any (tired) remarks of "repackage" here inappropriate since this is not a pressing & repackaging of the previously issued versions of old but rather is the first edition of the remastered Smiths albums. Yes the songs have been around a while, yet to listen to these 2011 remasters is to hear The Smiths in a completely new and finer way. Everything has its own space, the vocals sound wonderful, while Johnny's guitar parts have much more resonance and fullness, I can feel that guy's genius more than ever. It's all really beautiful and I've been thrilled with my purchase of The Smiths Complete Box Set. The CDs are housed in mini LP replica sleeves which means, unfortunately, that the original album sleeve lyrics are shrunken down from record album size to CD packaging size and are virtually "un-readable," if that's a word, as they are so ittie-bittie. It would have been nice if Rhino had included an extra (legible) lyric booklet in the box; I mean this is one of the greatest lyricists of our time for pity's sake! Hmmm, I'm pretty sure I've never used the phrase "for pity's sake" in my entire life, aloud or in written form, it being so old-fashioned, but you can see I feel pretty evangelical about one of my favorite bands. I think everyone should have a chance to know this poetry / this music. Little old ladies should buy this set for their grand children who listen to rap or heavy metal and so do the greatest deed in the world. Forget about the socks for a minute and change a life! Lastly I'd like to say, to disagree with another reviewer, that I for one love the album Louder Than Bombs and would naturally expect it to be included in any "complete" Smiths albums set. I've been listening to Louder Than Bombs for hundreds of years now and absolutely enjoy the track-listing. How arrogant for one fan to decide for others that a particular album is redundant and unnecessary. Heresy!

Ebbene si, lo confesso. Fino a qualche mese fa reputavo gli Smiths un gruppo valido, ma non fino al punto di accaparrarmi il box in questione, contenente tutti gli otto album ufficiali della straordinaria band inglese. Fortunatamente il tempo (ed un ascolto accurato) mi ha permesso di apprezzare in toto le gesta uniche ed irripetibili del quartetto britannico. Un viaggio all'insegna dell'arte del songwriting, che personalmente ho affrontato cronologicamente dal primo omonimo album al capitolo finale di "Strangeways, here we come", ovvero il processo evolutivo da un sound più scarno ed essenziale ad un pop dalle sonorità raffinate. Ovviamente sono incluse le raccolte "Hatful of hollow", "The world won't listen" e "Louder than bombs", che includono rarità, versioni alternative ed i leggendari singoli, fondamentali forse più degli album ufficiali. La confezione del box è piuttosto curata, splendida la foto di copertina ed assai carine le copertine in miniatura "lp replica", anche se i testi inclusi sono francamente assai poco leggibili. Il remastering mi pare molto buono, pur non avendo potuto fare un confronto diretto con le precedenti edizioni in cd. Per coloro che possono permetterselo, consiglierei l'acquisto del box gemello in vinile. In conclusione, più che un oggetto musicale potrei definire "The Smiths Complete" un vero e proprio investimento. Musica senza tempo, che a distanza di un trentennio suona più fresca ed attuale che mai. Il vero "brit-pop" per eccellenza.

La edición definitiva de uno de los mejores grupos de los 80. Una caja enorme ¡pero enorme de verdad! que incluye prácticamente toda la discografía del grupo de Mánchester. Pongo un copia pega de la descripción del contenido de la caja: 8 x CD Mini LP Albums 8 x 12" LP Albums 25 x 7" Singles The Complete Picture DVD 8 x 12" Art Prints Single & Album artwork poster Code to download catalogue as high-quality MP3s Booklet with liner notes and foreword by Johnny Marr Comentar que me he llevado la grata sorpresa de ver que algunos de los 7" son vinilos de color . Otra cosa noticiable es que respetan al 100% el diseño de los discos de la época, incluyendo incluso las pegatinas en las carpetas de los discos, letras e incluso los pósters (por ejemplo el de Rank) En lo negativo, que pese a que en la descripción ponga que incluye código de descarga de todo el catálogo, entre tanto disco aún no lo he encontrado....todo sea que un día de estos me lleve una sorpresa... La caja está numerada y es una edición limitada de 4000 unidades. Pese a estar descatalogada, de vez en cuando reponen alguna, a un precio excelente (supongo que las que van encontrando en algún almacén "perdido")